The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-01
NUMBER AZ.
Reorganization and Reform.

January took place at the Hotel Ren.
net, In Baltimore, Thursday of last
week. Hon. w. T. Hamilton pre-.
sided and there were representatives
from various portions of the State:
David Lynn was present from Allie.
gany. 1t was decided to call pub
lie general meeting In Baltimore
January IL, the day on which the
Farmers State Convention will be
held. Committees were appointed
to arrange for the meeting, invite
speakers and present resolutions.
The general meeting is expected to
call State convention to reorganize
the Democratic party.
The meeting adopted an address to
the Democratic voters of the State.
This address says that the Demo.
cratic party has control of all depart
ments of the State government, and
is and should be held responsible for
wrongs, abuses or evils in the public
service. That wrongs. abuses and
evils do exits in legislation and ad-
ministration, as in party organiza-
tion and management, is undoubted
and apparent. There is certain and
general discomfort and an evident
longing among the disinterested mas
ses of the party for better methods
and practices in party organization
and fer better government, Party
ties are weakening. and in late years
they have been fearfully strained,
threatening wreck of the party.
The address says the time has come,
and is the more Opportune and ne-
cessary as the call is now pending for
a convention to revise the State con-
stitution, when direct and practical
efforts he made toward renewing the
inner life of the party. To this end,
1t is set forth. there must be organiza-
ton for measures, policies and meth
oths, as distinguished from the con.
tests for men or merely for offices. If
existing abuses, wrongs and evils are
once reformed or removed and good
government established, and tet-
ter, fairer and purer party methods
and practices accepted, everything
involved in this movement is ac-
compished. With fit, capable, hon.
est and resolute men in places of
power. there is but little danger to
the interests of the people either
from imperfect or even bad laws or
the absence of law. Primary party
meetings have an important function.
They should have the protection of
law from violence and fraud, and
every Democrat should take an ac-
tive interest in these meetings and in
convention to secure fit nominations.
Among the reforms demanded are
the following:
A more complete ana perfect reg.
istration of voters for Baltimore is
necessary, together with a thorough
revision and reformation of our elec-
tfOn laws. Bribery and the extraor.
dinary and unnecessary use of money
at elections should be suppressed
with firm hand. The lobby should
no longer be tolerated, useless offices
should be abolished, salaries be made
moderate and fair, and extra allow
ances or gratuities cut off, rigid econ.
omy in public service enforced, and
officers held to strict responsibility.
Taxes should be reduced to the low
est point necessary, The specific
taxes levied TO pay the public debt
should be reIigiously applied, and
the laws for the creation and preser-
walton of the sinking fund enforced.
Offices necessary are for the purpos.
es of government or public trusts, and
it is the patriotic duty of the Demo-
Gratis to serve the public when rea-
sonably required. The assessment
of otficeholders for political purposes
should be prohibited by law. Rings.
bosses and leadership within the
party for personal interest or ag-
grandizement should be discount
enanced and abated. These purposes
cannot be accomplished until the
fraudulent elections in Baltimore are
superseded by fair vote and honest
canvass of the votes.
The address is signed as follows:
President. VIM. T. Hamilton, Wash
ington county; vice presidents, T..
l., F. HardcastIe, (Talbot,) John
Mocrcs, tHarford, DR.. r. G. Mackail,
(Cecil;) secretaries, P. D. Laird,
(Montgonery.) John S. Writ, tCecil,)
John Dodd, Queen Anne'sl.
Of the 1877 counties in Georgia, 1903
have absolute ProhibitiOn and twaIve